To Mr. Bai Langtaotian:

It is with deep admiration that I have long revered your noble friendship, though we have never had the chance to meet in person. Hearing of your fame from afar has stirred my heart. In life, you offered spiritual support to Mr. Huang; upon his passing, you mourned him with tears. Now, as he is about to be laid to rest, you have once again braved ten thousand miles of waves to stand by the grave and see the coffin borne to its final resting place. Your profound loyalty shines as brightly as the sun and moon, and your sincere devotion moves even the gods and spirits—such a story is rare in this world and unprecedented throughout history.  Zhi Fan [2] and Ze Dong, students of Hunan Province No. 1 Normal School, have studied the classics and cultivated lofty aspirations. We now earnestly wish to catch a glimpse of your distinguished presence and to receive your grand teachings. We would be most fortunate if you could graciously grant us an audience—how fortunate indeed!

Students of Hunan Province No. 1 Normal School: Xiao Zhi Fan, Mao Zedong

Printed from Mao Zedong’s manuscript.

Notes

[1] This letter was written by Mao Zedong together with Xiao Zhi Fan (i.e., Xiao San) during Bai Langtaotian’s visit to Changsha to attend Huang Xing’s funeral. Bai Langtaotian (1871–1922), whose real name was Miyazaki Tojō, also known as Bai Lang’an Taotian, was a native of Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan. Influenced early on by the Japanese liberal rights movement, he actively supported and assisted Sun Yat-sen in leading China’s bourgeois democratic revolution, joining the Revive China Society and maintaining close ties with Huang Xing and others. Even in dire poverty, he steadfastly refused a bribe offered by the chief of the Akasaka Police Station in Tokyo, thereby safeguarding confidential information belonging to Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing, and the Tongmenghui. After Huang Xing’s death in Shanghai in October 1916, his remains were returned to Hunan for burial. The following February, Bai Langtaotian came from Japan to Changsha to participate in the funeral rites, departing for home in April.

[2] Xiao Zhi Fan was at that time a teacher at the primary school affiliated with Hunan Province No. 1 Normal School. See note [4] on page 17 of this book.